command

[ kuh-mand, -mahnd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order:

   The captain commanded his men to attack.

   Synonyms: prescribe, order, instruct, enjoin, direct, charge, bid

   Antonyms: obey

2. to require authoritatively; demand:

   She commanded silence.

3. to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal:

   The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.

   Synonyms: oversee, manage, rule, lead, govern, control

4. to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.):

   He commands much respect for his attitude.

   Synonyms: exact, claim, compel

5. to dominate by reason of location; overlook:

   The hill commands the sea.

6. to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.

verb (used without object)

1. to issue an order or orders.
2. to be in charge; have authority.
3. to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.

noun

1. the act of commanding or ordering.

   Synonyms: injunction, bidding, direction, instruction, mandate, charge

2. an order given by one in authority:

   The colonel gave the command to attack.

3. Military.
   1. an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill:

      The command was “Right shoulder arms!”

   2. the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!
   3. Command, a principal component of the U.S. Air Force:

      Strategic Air Command.

   4. a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
4. the possession or exercise of controlling authority:

   a lieutenant in command of a platoon.

   Synonyms: proficiency, domination, sway, ascendancy, control, charge, authority, understanding, knowledge, grasp, comprehension

5. mastery; expertise:

   He has a command of French, Russian, and German.

6. British. a royal order.
7. power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook:

   the command of the valley from the hill.

8. Computers.
   1. an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.
   2. a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.
   3. a single instruction.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for use in the exercise of command: command post.

   a command car;

   command post.

2. of or relating to a commander:

   a command decision.

3. ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation:

   a command performance.

Command

¹

/ kəˈmɑːnd /

noun

1. any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces

   Air Command

command

²

/ kəˈmɑːnd /

verb

1. when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive to order, require, or compel
2. to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
3. tr to have knowledge or use of

   he commands the language

4. tr to receive as due or because of merit

   his nature commands respect

5. to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height

noun

1. an order; mandate
2. the act of commanding
3. the power or right to command
4. the exercise of the power to command
5. ability or knowledge; control

   a command of French

6. military the jurisdiction of a commander
7. a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
8. 1. an invitation from the monarch
   2. ( as modifier )

      a command performance

9. computing a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action

Other Words From

• commanda·ble adjective
• precom·mand noun verb
• uncom·manded adjective
• well-com·manded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of command¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English coma(u)nden, from Anglo-French com(m)a(u)nder, Old French comander, from Medieval Latin commandāre, equivalent to Latin com- com- + mandāre “to entrust, order” ( commend ); (noun) late Middle English comma(u)nde, from Anglo-French, Old French; the noun is derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of command¹

C13: from Old French commander, from Latin com- (intensive) + mandāre to entrust, enjoin, command

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with command , also see have a good command .

Synonym Study

See direct. See rule.

Example Sentences

The feature, which has been around for years, allows Alexa users to combine multiple tasks into a single voice command of their choosing.

From TechCrunch

Second, the department plans to overhaul the process and chain of command for simultaneous search warrants.

From Vox

The formidable DJI RoboMaster S1 will accept commands from a remote, or via a simple coding system called Scratch.

From Popular-Science

You could have it switch all your smart home devices off with a single command.

From Popular-Science

Bashagha, who sought to rein in militias after fighting between armed groups rocked Tripoli in 2018, angered al-Sarraj by stating publicly that the civilian police under his command would protect demonstrators.

From Ozy

Certainly, she seems to command near-total devotion among her clients.

From The Daily Beast

You expect soldiers of all ranks to understand the need to respect the chain of command, regardless of personal feelings.

From The Daily Beast

The seemingly endless ranks snapped to attention on command and thousands of white gloves rose in salute.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps the most interesting and indeed relevant of this is the C2 (or Command and Control) addresses found in the malware.

From The Daily Beast

In the event, the enemy did plenty—far more than SHAEF, or for that matter the German high command, imagined possible.

From The Daily Beast

One of the simplest of these childish tricks is the invention of an excuse for not instantly obeying a command, as "Come here!"

From Project Gutenberg

Like every other Spanish general in supreme command abroad, Polavieja had his enemies in Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Thanks to Berthier's admirable system, Bonaparte was kept in touch with every part of his command.

From Project Gutenberg

They were never refused, for their recipients looked upon them much in the light of a royal command.

From Project Gutenberg

The General in command of the station was a feeble old man, suffering from senile decay.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• determine
• direct
• dominate
• manage
• supervise
• take over
• wield